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Salazar Announces $20 Million for Grand Junction VA Medical Center
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative John Salazar today announced that 3 new projects totaling nearly $20 million have been approved for the Grand Junction VA hospital by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The funding was made possible by a $397 million increase over the President’s request for VA construction, which Rep. Salazar fought for in the final 2008 Appropriations bill signed into law in December.
“I am pleased to announce that the Veterans Administration has approved three new projects totaling $19.9 million for the Grand Junction VA Medical Center. This marks a victory for Northwest Colorado veterans and for all of us who have served our country and believe our men and women in uniform deserve the best from the country they serve so honorably,” said Rep. Salazar.
The Grand Junction VA Medical Center serves a veteran population of 37,000 from Colorado’s Western Slope and Utah. The VAMC is responsible for primary and secondary care including acute medical, surgical and psychiatric inpatient services as well as outpatient services.
“The new funds are a real result for Colorado veterans form the historic VA funding increase passed by Congress last year,” added Salazar. “This is going to make a positive difference for our veterans and I look forward to continuing to work closely with the VA for the Grand Junction facility.”
The Grand Junction VA Medical Center Projects can be found online in Volume IV: Construction and the 5 year Capitol Plan of the administration's FY2009 budget proposal at www.va.gov/budget/summary/2009/index.htm. Table 4-5 the FY 2008 Prioritized VHA Minor Construction Projects on pages 7-90 through 7-95 includes the three priority projects for Grand Junction, CO.
The additional construction projects will be used for ongoing expansion at the Grand Junction VA Medical Center and to update the surgery facilities and the intensive care unit.
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